This is purely a cultural bastardization of morals and should not be tolerated in any part of the world that calls itself free.
American freedoms are not the definition of freedom in other countries. In America we are supposed to have freedom to practice our religion (whichever that may be) and the freedom to observe our cultural customs. It is apparent that France does not share our ideals. I have long felt that it is arrogance for Americans to condemn other cultures for their practices, no matter how alien they are to the America way of life. We wouldn't accept the French, or any other country, telling us what freedoms should be allowed in America, so why should we think that we are free to tell another country how to run their government and their citizens' lives.

The American way is our prerogative in the U.S. but it is not to be forced on anyone. To do so is arrogant and is the same as dictators telling us how to run our country. There are limits to religious/cultural freedoms even in America. In one state a Muslim woman was denied a driver's license because she refused to uncover her face for the photo. It limits authorities ability to verify the identity of the licensee. In my home state, a driver's license is a privilege not a right. In another instance in America, a Muslim woman was denied access to her bank's lobby because she refused to uncover her face (policy at that bank required one to even remove their sun glasses when entering the lobby so identification on video surveillance equipment could be made more easily so it wasn't religious discrimination in this case either).

The exclusion of burkini's in public pools is supposed to be for hygiene reasons. I just don't see how a speedo will make a man more hygienic than swim trunks or a two piece bathing suit would make a woman more hygienic. In this instance, I think it was a way for the mayor to use his political power to exercise discrimination against Muslims and to harass this woman. But in a socialist society it is the good of the masses that is paramount and individual rights can be deprived arbitrarily by the authorities.